Wednesday, June 14, 2000
Covington schools fall short
Improvement plan awaited
By Andrea Tortora
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — At Holmes Junior High, some teachers' lack of knowledge about the subjects they teach — and about proper teaching and testing techniques — have made for monotonous classes, full of bored students who sometimes misbehave or are apathetic.
At Glenn O. Swing Elementary, where the classrooms are overcrowded, teachers don't have enough materials and must shell out their own money for class supplies.
At Latonia Elementary, students are segregated into two learning tracts: one in five is taught a challenging curriculum that requires high standards for learning, and the rest are given less rigorous, unenriching instruction and assignments.
That is only some of what is wrong with Covington Schools, according to a 500-page state report released to Covington's School Board. Auditors from the Kentucky Department of Education found those and dozens of other problems plaguing Covington's eight schools and 4,800 students during a weeklong visit in May.
District has 45 days
Now district leaders have 45 days to develop a plan to make improvements designed ultimately to help more children reach state-mandated educational goals.
The first steps began Tuesday, when interim Superintendent Jack Moreland met with principals and other school administrators and announced plans to streamline central office staff and return some administrators to the classroom.
Board members said they are pleased with Mr. Moreland's quick action, necessary because many of the state's orders must be carried out before school starts in the fall.
“Many people who work for the district were aware these problems existed,” said one of the five board members, Mike Fitzgerald.
“This is the first time all of these things have been lumped together.
“But I think the district can shine above this.”
Most distressing to education department officials were many parents' perceptions that they are not welcome in their children's schools, said Lois Adams-Rodgers, an education department deputy commissioner.
“Many parents felt they did not have equal access to the schools and many are frustrated,” Mrs. Adams-Rodgers said. “This is a pervasive attitude.”
Parents who spoke with audi tors said that some school office staff were cold and hostile toward them and teachers seemed not to care about their child's needs.
Minority parents, in particular, said that issues of diversity in classroom instruction and materials were largely ignored. Most of the teachers auditors asked about diversity felt it was not a priority.
Lack of sensitivity
That lack of sensitivity sometimes affected the children.
A teacher at Holmes High was approached about an allegation that he consistently removes minority students from his classes. The teacher did not deny the allegation.
Auditors also questioned how educational dollars were spent.
At Ninth District Elementary, for instance, funds went to resources that had little to do with helping students meet educational goals, they wrote.
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